Which Rental Property Features Attract Tenants

A quick scan of rental postings reveals different types of amenities that landlords use to attract tenants. These features can range from the obvious amenities such as a patio and a pool, to the more unusual amenities like a yoga studio and a pet washing station. With the competitive rental market, it’s important for landlords to know which features can entice potential renters and which ones can be ignored.

According to a survey conducted by the National Multi Housing Council, the most important features for tenants are a washer and dryer and air conditioning. These features top the list with 88 percent of survey respondents listing the washer and dryer and 84 percent listing air conditioning as “very desirable” features.

Next on the list were the amenities associated with the outdoor portion of the property. A swimming pool was listed as “very desirable” by 77 percent of respondents, with 66 percent desiring a patio or balcony. Tenants also expressed the desire for air conditioning and heating in communal areas such as a lobby or communal terrace.

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Safety and security features, such as gated entry and a security system, are also important to tenants. According to the survey, 43 percent of respondents deemed a gated entry “very desirable” and 36 percent said the same for a security system.

Amenities such as bike storage, pet-washing stations, yoga studios, and fitness centers trailed behind the other features, with only 28 percent rating bike storage as “very desirable” and only 17 percent rating the pet-washing station as “very desirable.”

Understanding which rental property features attract tenants in the crowded rental market is essential for landlords to stand out and draw interest to their rental properties. Features such as a washer and dryer, air conditioning, a swimming pool, and a patio or balcony should be considered priorities for any rental property.